Carrying the Tricolour in their hands, school students and villagers in Uttar Pradesh’s Hamirpur district walked nearly 5 km to the Collectorate with a simple but long-pending demand — build a proper road to their school.
Students and residents of Chandu Pur gram panchayat organised a Tiranga Yatra and marched to the district headquarters after facing years of problems because of the poor condition of the road connecting their area.
The protesters said that reaching school becomes especially difficult during the monsoon. With the unpaved stretch turning muddy and waterlogged, students are forced to walk through difficult conditions to attend classes.
‘No Proper Road Since Independence’, Villagers Say
The protesters claimed that their area has not received a properly paved road since Independence. They said the lack of a usable road affects not only students but also the wider village population.
After completing the march, the students and villagers gathered near the District Magistrate’s gate and continued raising slogans. Police personnel were deployed at the Collectorate while officials, including the SDM, handled the situation.
The protesters said they would not leave until they received concrete assurance that construction work would begin.
Administration Says ₹1 Crore Road Project Is Ready
Hamirpur ADM Rakesh Kumar said the villagers submitted a memorandum seeking construction of a paved road.
According to the administration, a No Objection Certificate (NOC) has already been obtained from the Forest Department. The proposed road is estimated to cost around ₹1 crore.
Kumar said the proposal has been sent to the government and that the administration will invite tenders once approval is received. The road project has reportedly remained pending for several years.
ADM Raises Question Over Children Joining Protest
While acknowledging the villagers’ demand, ADM Rakesh Kumar alleged that some “anti-social elements” were trying to unnecessarily escalate the matter by bringing children into the protest.
The official also pointed to the presence of family members accompanying the students at the Collectorate.
The villagers, however, continued to insist that the issue is about a basic necessity and that students should not have to struggle through muddy roads simply to reach school.
Students’ Message Is Simple: Build The Road
For the children who joined the Tiranga Yatra, the protest was less about politics and more about their daily journey to school.
The administration has said the proposed project could move ahead after government approval and the tender process. The protesters, meanwhile, want the work to begin on the ground rather than remain another proposal waiting for action.
